Alabama Senate approves education budget that wouldn't cut teachers

MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- The Alabama Senate has approved a $5.4 billion education budget that will reduce spending for public schools and universities, but doesn’t require any teacher layoffs or larger class sizes.

The Senate voted 35-0 for the budget, which now goes to the House for consideration with only a few hours remaining on the Legislature’s final day.

The governor recommended a budget in February that would have cut more than 1,000 teachers and raised class sizes. Senate budget committee Chairman Trip Pittman said the compromise budget shifts money to avoid that. For instance, the state will sell bonds to buy school buses rather than spending $20 million in tax revenue.

State school Superintendent Tommy Bice said the budget looks wonderful at first glance.